Reuters | January 24, 2002
ROME - Rural development and respect for the consumer and the environment are the main planks of an Italian proposal on medium-term Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform, the Farm Ministry said yesterday.
Farm Minister Giovanni Alemanno has presented a document to the EU outlining his vision for reform of Agenda 2000 before talks begin in July, the ministry said in a statement.
"The document ... underlines that agriculture in future should not limit itself to produce, but should also offer other services such as certified quality of produce, protection of the environment and conservation of rural areas," it said.
Reform of the CAP should hinge on refining a policy of rural development and preparing the agricultural market to bear the competitive pressures of enlargement of the bloc, World Trade Organisation reforms and the increasing demands of consumers in terms of quality and respect for the environment, it added.Reuters:
